Machine for securing metal caps on bottles.



Ma i

C. W. V. MESSERSCHMIDT. MACHINE FOR SECURING METAL CAPS 0N BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. 1911.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

luessas UNITED sr 'rEs PATENT orrion.

CHRISTIAN WILLIAM VILHELM MESSERSCHMIDT, or COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.

MACHINE FOR SECURING METAL CAPS ON BOTTLES.

Application filed July 6, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN 'WILLIAMVILHELM MESSERSOHMIDT, a subject of the King of Denmark, residing at Gl.Kongeve 6, Copenhagen, Denmark, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Securing Metal Caps on Bottles; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same.

This invention relates to mechanism for applying caps to receptaclessuch as bottles and has for its object the provision of means forconforming the cap closely to the head of a receptacle in such manner asto efiectively seal the same. In devices of this character as heretoforeconstructed, the mecha nism has in many instances been unfitted toproperly apply the cap to, for example, bottles of different makes owingto slight variations in the disposition of the recess around thebottle-neck into which a part of the cap is driven.

My invention consists in providing a plurality of rollers which aremoved longitudinally with respect to the bottle while bearing againstthe neck thereof, the inward movement of the rollers against the sealingdevice being controlled by a pattern cooperating therewith.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side elevation with partsremoved of the cap applying rollers, a portion of the plunger and thehead of the bottle being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a plan of thedevice shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of one of therollers.

The mechanism for imparting the various movements to the rollers, theplunger and the bottle are not shown herein, since they are notessential parts of my invention. The device embodies a plunger A againstthe lOWer end of which the bottle B with the capsule 0 applied looselythereto, is adapted to bepressed. Immediately above the lower end of theplunger it is provided with an annular pattern surface comprising agroove 16 which merges into a rib 17. Arranged concentrically of theplunger is a surrounding ring 15 which is supposed to have both avertical and a rotary motion with respect to the axis of the plunger.Pivoted to this ring are three depending rods 18 which carry at theirlower ends double rollers comprising the rims G and 19 at the respectiveends thereof. These rollers are in one solid piece and preferably ofsteel and are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 637,044.

mounted on ball-bearings as shown in Fig. 3. They are also adjustablelongitudinally upon the rods 18 by means of the nuts 1 Which Work uponthe threaded ends of the rods. These three rods are spaced apart aroundthe plunger A and are pressed toward the same by means of springs 20which extend between the'lower ends of the plum gers as shown in Fig. 1.In this position the rims G of the rollers are out of contact with theplunger A immediately above the bottle, while the rims l9 bear againstthe surface of the plunger at a point above the groove 16. The ring 15is now simultaneously rotated and lowered and as soon as the rims Gapproach the groove in the neck of the bottle, the rims 19 pass into thegroove 16 in the plunger, thereby permitting the rollers to be drawninward by the springs 20 and to roll the capsule firmly into the grooveon the bottle. In the further clownward movement of the rollers the rims19 travel outward upon the rib 17 of the plunger thus drawing the rims Gout of contact with the capsule and bottle and permit ting the bottle tobe removed without interference therefrom. When this is done, therollers return to the position shown in Fig. 1 for operation uponanother bottle. While in this non-operating position, the rims G whichact upon the capsule, are held out ofcontact with the plunger A so thatwhile the rollers are in their upper position there is no wear of therims G by contact with the plunger.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a capping machine, a fixed plunger, a plurality of rollerssurrounding said plunger, having a revoluble movement around saidplunger and a rectilinear movement parallel to the axis of said plunger,means for forcing said rollers inwardly, and means normally holding saidrollers apart a distance greater than the diameter of the cap to beplaced upon the bottle beneath the plunger and for permitting inwardmovement of said rollers to engage said cap upon an initial downwardmovement of said rollers and for forcing said rollers apart upon afurther downward movement of said rollers to disengage the rollers fromthe cap.

2. In a capping machine, a fixed plunger, a rotatable supportsurrounding said plunger and adapted to be moved in a direction parallelto the axis of said plunger, a plurality of members connected to saidsupport,

rollers mounted on said members and adapted to roll the cap into lockingengagement with a receptacle when said rollers are forced inwardly intoengagement with said cap while being rotated, means for forcing saidrollers inwardly, and a cam forming an extension from the bottom end ofsaid plunger normally holding said rollers spaced a distance greaterthan the cap to be locked to the receptacle and permitting inwardmovement of said rollers on the initial clownward movement of saidsupport to engage said cap and roll the same into locking engagementwith the receptacle and for then forcing said rollers apart upon furtherdownward movement of said support to disengage the rollers from the capand the receptacle whereby the capped receptacle may be removed whilethe rollers are in their lowermost position.

3. In a capping machine, a fixed plunger against which the loose cap onthe receptacle is adapted to abut, a plurality of rollers surroundingsaid plunger, having a revoluble movement around said plunger and arectilinear movement in adirection parallel to the axis of said plunger,said plunger having an annular cam forming a part thereof with whichsaid rollers are adapted to engage, means for forcing said rollers intoengagement with said plungers, said annular cam being cut to hold saidrollers spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the cap tobe attached to the bottle in their normal upper position and to permitthe rollers to engage said cap upon an initial downward movement and foragain forcing said rol1- ers out of engagement with said cap in theirlowermost positions whereby the capped receptacle may be removed whilethe rollers remain in their lowermost position.

4. In a capping machine, a fixed plunger against which the loose cap ona receptacle is adapted to abut, a plurality of rollers surrounding saidplunger, having a revoluble movement around said plunger and arectilinear movement in a direction parallel to the plunger, and meansfor normally holding said rollers apart a distance greater than thediameter of the cap in the upper position of said rollers and for movingthem into locking engagement with said cap upon an initial downwardmovement of said rollers and for again forcing them apart upon a furtherdownward movement thereof whereby the capped receptacle may be removedfrom beneath the plunger when the rollers are in their lowermostposition.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN WILLIAM VILHELM MESSERSOIIMIDT.

Witnesses:

Vrsso BLoM, C. V. SoHoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

